X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Three Up, Three Down for Prospects - Catcher

While this is not a hot take, the catcher position has been dreadful for fantasy owners over the past few seasons. And yet, this does not mean that catching prospects are also on the decline. For example, this writer has four catchers in the top-60 dynasty prospect rankings, and two close to jumping into that group. With such an influx of talent, there are unique opportunities for new names to jump onto rosters and make an impact across all five categories.

The limit with catching prospects is that the better hitters tend to move off the position, and the best defenders lack the hit tool to make a legitimate fantasy impact. The silver lining is that, often, catching prospects are cheaper than other sexy names in first-year player drafts, and, with the position context, make a greater relative impact at the position. This is why J.T. Realmuto is ranked much higher than his raw stats in drafts but also tends to be worth the pick. 

For dynasty owners, keep reading to see who the Rotoballer team thinks are prospects on the way up, and who needs to turn a recent trend around to stay fantasy relevant. Just a hint, there is a bias towards hit tools on this list, which will reward owners with multiple-category production. Not that we avoid power, but the hit tool tends to be a bit more predictive of long-term fantasy value.

Featured Promo: Get any MLB Premium Pass FREE ($119 value) AND up to a $200 deposit match when you sign up with Rival Fantasy. Rival offers 6 and 12-team Best Ball, weekly and daily contests, for as little as $3 per entry. No roster management, just draft and Rival sets your best lineup automatically. Playing fantasy baseball has never been easier! Sign Up Today!

 

Stock Rising

Andrew Knizner (C, STL)

Knizner is underrated in fantasy circles for the last few seasons, but Carson Kelly’s move to the desert removes the only block on his value long term. 2018 was his break-out year, at least for those who ignored the production in 2017. Over 94 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Knizner slashed .314/.373/.421 with seven homers and 42 runs. The plate discipline pushes a plus grade, with a 0.54 BB:K and the catcher has never posted a K rate higher than 14%.

The limit on Knizner’s upside is his power, as the tool grades out as average at best, but a plus hit tool still makes him a top fantasy target. The other concern in previous seasons has been the defense behind the plate, as he perhaps does not hit enough to justify a spot at first. By all accounts, the defense is improving with each step up the organization ladder and should reduce the concerns on playing time for now. The floor is a bat-upside reserve to Yadier Molina for the next few years, with the ability to push for the role after the legend in front of him retires. In a weak catcher market, a close to the majors prospect with a high floor, will be worth his weight in gold.

Daulton Varsho (C, ARI)

Varsho is the option for owners looking to steal a speed category in roto leagues from behind the plate. While he grades out as a below-average arm in throwing runners out, when running on his own, Varsho posted 19 steals in 22 attempts. Add that to 12 homers in 81 games between Rookie ball and High-A, and this looks to be the most exciting package in the minors at backstop. In the Francisco Mejia mode, Varsho could find his way out into the field, perhaps at second base, but even there the 20/20 upside plays. The other reason to jump in on Varsho would be the Flyball%, which has increased with his march up the organization ranks. This should make up for some of the other concerns limiting his power.

A 31.5 IFFB% at High-A showed the downside to the swing path after a 29.3% mark at Low-A in 2017. While this clearly shows there are some holes in the swing, and he still needs a few years to enter the draft equation, Varsho has impressed by demonstrating that the speed and power combo was not a fluke. Long term, he should have a 15/15 floor, but a slight swing change should unlock the potential in his bat. Varsho is the Yandy Diaz of catching prospects, with a floor to be an asset, but a swing change away from being an elite option. 

Keibert Ruiz (C, LAD)

This one might be cheating a bit, as many in the industry had Ruiz as one of the top prospects at catching coming into 2018. What they did not see was that he is perhaps the top catching prospect with a stock that is moving higher with every look at the film and production on paper. Ruiz is still only 19, and competing with the best at Double-A, so the concerns about a drop in the batting average to .268 need to be placed in the full context of his season. 12 homers in 101 games how the limit on the power numbers, but a 26:31 BB:K line demonstrates the approach at the plate. In the AFL this Fall, Ruiz only failed to get on base three times in 13 games, and only struck out once in 44 PAs. Of all the catchers on this list, Ruiz grades out the best behind the plate, with Fangraphs putting a 55 FV on the defense tool.

Ruiz is not a new name to the baseball community, but is closer than most think to a fantasy impact, and might even be a bit underrated outside the prospect community. The other selling point is the catching situation in Los Angeles, as, while Russel Martin seems to have a role due to the trade, mostly for his glove, further struggles from Austin Barnes are not out of the question. While there is little reason to project Ruiz as a starter even late in 2019, there are reasons to see him get a cup of coffee at the least. 

 

Stock Falling

Carson Kelly (C, ARI)

Coming in right under the rookie eligibility due to a few short stints with the Cardinals, Kelly is the prospect closest to regular playing time of all the names on the list. And yet, the move to Arizona is not one that should excite Kelly owners. Not only was the bat a question mark before the trade, but moving to a neutral hitters park only hurts that even more. Add to that a team in flux, moving towards a tear-down, and all the supporting pieces hurt Kelly’s outlook. Kelly’s longest stint at Triple-A was in 2018, where be played in 83 games, for this third stop at the level. In those games, Kelly slashed .269/.378/.395 with seven homers and 38 runs.

Kelly will play with the Diamondbacks, but the plate-per-plate production will not excite owners, even with the sorry state of the position. Fantasy owners should not buy into the glove leading to playing time narrative that is attached to Kelly at this point and expect this to be the next coming of Roberto Perez. The downside is that Kelly cannot match Perez's power upside, making this an empty batting average play, if he hits with Arizona.

Tyler Stephenson (C, CIN)

The 2015 11th-overall pick of the Cincinnati Reds, Stephenson has seen his prospect luster close to disappearing after a disappointing stop at High-A in 2018. In 109 games, he did flash some power, with 11 homers, but also saw the overall plate skills deteriorate. After a 16.9% K rate in 2017, Stephenson saw this rate jump to 21.8%. While not a massive increase in a vacuum, at 22, Stephenson is now old for his level and should be showing gains, not drops in production as he moves closer to the Reds. Add to that a two-point drop in his walk rate, and there is little reason to think still that the catcher is on a path to being fantasy worthy.

One primary reason for the slow progression could be the injuries, with a broken wrist and a concussion both costing him time. While this is no reason to doubt his long term prospects as a Big League catcher, even in a reserve role, the hit tool has not been consistent enough to warrant fantasy teams hanging on to the player. Avoid this player with some name value, and look to move him while there is still a shot at a decent return.

Francisco Mejia (C, SD)

While this writer is not out on Mejia, the ceiling of an elite hitter seems to be waning a bit. Before looking under the hood, the fact that Cleveland was willing to part with him shows they do not see him as the heir longterm. If so, that is an overpay for a closer, giving owners some insight there. Even more, the fact that he was linked to a move to Miami, while only rumor, shows that the Padres themselves might be a souring a bit once they got a close look. Even without the story, the defense is just not been proven good enough to keep him at catcher, or at least, to allow him to overtake a good glove, no bat option like Austin Hedges. Mejia also flashed both sides of his production after a move to San Diego with a .328/.364/.582 slash at Triple-A El Paso, but a 32.8% K rate during his time with the Padres.

The good news for Mejia is that even in the minors he was able to pair high batting averages with K rates, so the small sample should not scare off owners, but perhaps Mejia is not the elite player that most had pegged entering 2018. Mejia needs to get playing time this campaign for owners to see what they have, and for the time being, even in dynasty leagues, this writer will look to other names to build a long term option behind the dish.

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects & Dynasty




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nick Senzel20 mins ago

Expected To Miss 3-4 Weeks
Jon Gray24 mins ago

To Start On Sunday
Justin Steele28 mins ago

Likely To Go On Injured List
Anfernee Simons2 hours ago

Out Against The Heat
Max Kepler3 hours ago

X-Rays Come Back Negative On Max Kepler
Keldon Johnson3 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Justin Steele3 hours ago

Has Left-Hamstring Tightness
Matisse Thybulle3 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Davis Bertans3 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Friday
Jusuf Nurkic3 hours ago

Questionable Against Oklahoma City
Dario Saric3 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
Noah Clowney3 hours ago

Probable For Nets Friday
Jonathan Kuminga3 hours ago

Questionable For Warriors Friday
Jerami Grant3 hours ago

Considered Doubtful For Friday
Dennis Smith4 hours ago

Jr. Probable For Friday
Lauri Markkanen4 hours ago

Questionable Against Houston
Toumani Camara4 hours ago

Will Not Play Friday
Justin Steele4 hours ago

Exits Thursday's Start
Richaun Holmes4 hours ago

Out Versus Pistons
Cameron Johnson4 hours ago

Out Against Chicago On Friday
Luka Doncic4 hours ago

On The Injury Report For Friday
David Bednar4 hours ago

Still Dealing With Lat Injury
Deandre Ayton4 hours ago

Is Questionable For Friday
Rudy Gobert4 hours ago

Might Miss Friday's Game
Tyus Jones4 hours ago

Unavailable For Friday
Zeke Nnaji4 hours ago

Ruled Out Against Minnesota
Jaden Ivey4 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
Rhys McKee4 hours ago

Searching For First UFC Win
Anthony Edwards4 hours ago

Uncertain For Friday Night
Chidi Njokuani5 hours ago

Drops Back Down To Welterweight At UFC Atlantic City
Kyle Nelson5 hours ago

An Underdog Again At UFC Atlantic City
Bill Algeo5 hours ago

Eyes Sixth UFC Win
Joaquin Buckley5 hours ago

Gets Ranked Opponent At UFC Atlantic City
Vicente Luque5 hours ago

Gets Short-Notice Opponent At UFC Atlantic City
Eduardo Rodriguez5 hours ago

Could Throw Off Mound In 5-7 Days
Max Kepler6 hours ago

Leaves On Opening Day With Injury
Nick Senzel6 hours ago

Suffers Broken Thumb
Jason Foley6 hours ago

Earns The Save For Tigers
Tarik Skubal7 hours ago

Tosses Six Scoreless Innings On Opening Day
Corbin Burnes7 hours ago

Pitches A Gem On Opening Day
Royce Lewis7 hours ago

Exits With Quad Injury
Max Scherzer9 hours ago

Throws Bullpen Session
Clayton Kershaw9 hours ago

"Ahead Of Things" Timetable-Wise
Walker Buehler9 hours ago

Ahead Of Schedule
Corey Seager9 hours ago

Active On Opening Day
Oneil Cruz9 hours ago

Batting Sixth On Opening Day
Bryan Reynolds11 hours ago

In Opening Day Lineup
Jordan Romano13 hours ago

Not Expected To Be Out Long
Aaron Ekblad14 hours ago

Returning To Panthers Lineup Thursday
Nikita Kucherov14 hours ago

Establishes New Career High With 42nd Goal
Shane Pinto14 hours ago

Collects Career-High Four Points
Valeri Nichushkin14 hours ago

Nursing A Lower-Body Injury
Samuel Girard14 hours ago

Battling An Illness
J.K. Dobbins14 hours ago

Visiting With Chargers On Thursday
Oskar Sundqvist14 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Season With Torn ACL
Ethan Bear14 hours ago

Enters Player Assistance Program
Mark Hubbard1 day ago

Coming Off A Career Performance
Davis Thompson1 day ago

Looking To Pay Off A Stellar Run Of Ball-Striking
Akshay Bhatia1 day ago

Coming Into Houston With Confidence
Thorbjorn Olesen1 day ago

Still Trying To Find Footing On U.S. Soil
Patrick Rodgers1 day ago

Fighting Inconsistencies Heading Into Houston
Malik Nabers1 day ago

Shines At Pro Day
Carolina Panthers1 day ago

Jadeveon Clowney Signing Two-Year Deal With Panthers
Wyndham Clark1 day ago

Battling Back Injury Ahead of Houston Open
San Francisco 49ers1 day ago

Talanoa Hufanga Expected To Return At Training Camp
Jayden Daniels1 day ago

Raiders To Meet With Jayden Daniels
Tank Bigsby1 day ago

Jaguars Want Tank Bigsby More Involved
Josh Reynolds1 day ago

Signs Two-Year Deal With Broncos
Doug Ghim2 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back At Houston Open
PGA2 days ago

Cameron Davis Seeking Consistency Ahead Of Houston Open
Thomas Detry2 days ago

A Gamble At Houston Open
Ryan Fox2 days ago

Lacks Upside Heading Into Houston Open
Andrew Novak2 days ago

Will Be Chalk At Houston Open
Josh Doan2 days ago

Scores Twice In His NHL Debut
Filip Forsberg2 days ago

Makes History In Big Comeback Win
Jamie Benn2 days ago

Scores In Fifth Consecutive Game
Sidney Crosby2 days ago

Collects Three Points Versus Carolina
Artemi Panarin2 days ago

Continues Scoring Tear With Three Assists
Joey Daccord2 days ago

Shuts Out Ducks
Sahith Theegala2 days ago

Showing Consistency This Season
Wyndham Clark2 days ago

Working Toward Star Status
Scottie Scheffler2 days ago

Heads To Houston At His Best
Sam Ryder2 days ago

Putting The Lights Out Of Late
Joel Dahmen2 days ago

All Systems Go For Joel Dahmen In Houston
Kurt Kitayama2 days ago

Ready For Houston Debut
Ben Griffin2 days ago

Finding Form Heading To Houston
Taylor Moore2 days ago

Continues Made-Cut Streak Heading To Houston
Adam Svensson2 days ago

Hoping For Consistency In Houston
Taylor Montgomery2 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back In Houston
Amon-Ra St. Brown2 days ago

Discussing Extension With Lions
Jared Goff2 days ago

Lions Discussing New Deal
J.K. Dobbins2 days ago

Cleared For Football Activities
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Tre'Davious White To Join Rams
PIT2 days ago

Sam Poulin Recalled From AHL
Jack Quinn2 days ago

Could Return Wednesday
Scott Mayfield2 days ago

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
TOR2 days ago

Mitch Marner Skates On His Own Tuesday
Trevor Zegras2 days ago

To Return Tuesday
Justus Annunen2 days ago

Inks Two-Year Extension
Nick Chubb2 days ago

Expected To Start Load Running Next Month
D'Andre Swift2 days ago

Bears View D'Andre Swift As Receiving Weapon
Cordarrelle Patterson2 days ago

Signing With Steelers
Sam Howell2 days ago

Seahawks Believe Sam Howell Can Be A Full-Time Starter
Tennessee Titans2 days ago

L'Jarius Sneed Agrees On Four-Year Contract With Titans
Dak Prescott2 days ago

No Indication A Deal Is Coming For Dak Prescott
Calvin Ridley2 days ago

To Have Big Role In Tennessee
Josh Jacobs2 days ago

To Be Used More In Passing Game
Brandon Saad3 days ago

Gets Another Goal In Monday's Loss
Logan Thompson3 days ago

Stretches Winning Streak To Three Games
Pittsburgh Steelers3 days ago

Cameron Heyward Expected To Be Healthy For Training Camp
Zach Wilson3 days ago

Jets Could End Up Keeping Zach Wilson
Amanda Ribas3 days ago

Takes Decision Loss
Rose Namajunas3 days ago

Snaps Losing Streak
Edmen Shahbazyan3 days ago

Scores Vicious Comeback Knockout
AJ Dobson3 days ago

Knocked Out In The First Round At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla3 days ago

Gets Back On Track With Submission Win
Luis Pajuelo3 days ago

Submitted In UFC Debut
William Byron4 days ago

Dominates For Victory At COTA
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Grabs Another Solid Finish At COTA
Chris Buescher4 days ago

Texas Native Chris Buescher Finishes Eighth At COTA
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Kyle Busch Confronts Christopher Bell Following A Top-10 Finish At COTA
Justin Haley4 days ago

Disqualified After Strong COTA Run
Martin Truex Jr4 days ago

. Rounds Out Top Ten At COTA
NASCAR4 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Worms Way Up To Sixth At COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Comes Down to Earth After Mediocre COTA Run
Ross Chastain4 days ago

Ran Well at COTA as Usual Despite Late-Race Fade
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Furious Charge Falls Just Short at COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Scores Strong Finish of Fifth at COTA
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Finishes 16th at COTA After Lackluster Performance
Billy Quarantillo4 days ago

Suffers Submission Loss At UFC Vegas 89
Youssef Zalal4 days ago

Gets Submission Win In Return To The UFC
Cameron Saaiman4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 89
Payton Talbott4 days ago

Scores KO Win At UFC Vegas 89
Justin Tafa4 days ago

Drops To .500 In The UFC
Karl Williams4 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Kyle Larson5 days ago

Is One Of The Optimal DFS Options For COTA
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

Should Denny Hamlin Be Rostered For DFS Lineups At COTA?
Kaz Grala5 days ago

Is A Serviceable DFS Play For COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen5 days ago

Will Start 12th In First COTA Cup Start
Todd Gilliland5 days ago

Is A Sneaky DFS Play With Upside For COTA
William Byron5 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win At COTA
Christopher Bell5 days ago

Is A Comfortable DFS Play For COTA
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

the Favorite to Win at COTA
Ty Gibbs5 days ago

Looking for First Career Win at COTA
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

2024 NFL Draft: Bold Predictions and Potential Surprises for Round 1

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! With the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, we're digging into what might transpire on draft night. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones previews the 2024 NFL Draft and makes some BOLD Predictions about possible surprises and potential landing spots for the first round of the draft. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller!... Read More


George Pickens - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Early Look At Wide Receivers In 2024 Fantasy Football Drafts

The upcoming NFL Draft is less than a month away. While everyone is excited for the NFL Draft, fantasy players are looking forward to the regular season. While we won’t have meaningful NFL football for months, it’s never too early to prepare for your fantasy football drafts. Last year, the fantasy football world saw multiple... Read More


Spencer Rattler, College Football Transfers

Underrated Rookie Draft Targets - Early 2024 Sleepers for Dynasty Fantasy Football

We are a month out from the NFL Draft, meaning if you are here, you are probably looking for draft content and reading up on prospects. You probably have all of the information you need on stud prospects like Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. That’s not what you’re here for.  Rookie draft season for... Read More


Breece Hall - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Free-Agency Winners and the Fantasy Football Impact - Part II

The NFL's offseason, including trades and free agency, can strongly impact a player's fantasy football value. This effect can be positive or negative. For this series, we're focusing on fantasy football players who have seen their fantasy value increase. This can occur via a player's direct movement, such as a trade or signing with a... Read More


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 1: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2024)

It's finally here: the UFL season is set to kick off with two games on Saturday, March 30 and two games on Sunday, March 31. Saturday's games will be broadcast on Fox Sports while Sunday's matchups will be on ESPN. The most anticipated Week 1 matchup pits the 2023 USFL champion Birmingham Stallions against the... Read More


Jared Goff - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Will the Lions Extend Jared Goff's Contract This Offseason? 2024 NFL Outlook

Jared Goff's career in Los Angeles didn't take off like many expected after his appearance in Super Bowl LIII, and he was traded to the Lions for Matthew Stafford. Goff's first season in the Motor City was terrible, but he has completely turned things around over the last two seasons. In 2022, he almost led... Read More


Kyle Pitts - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Free-Agency Winners and the Fantasy Football Impact - Part I

Free agency symbolizes the start of a new NFL season. It's the first opportunity for NFL clubs to start addressing their weaknesses and considerably impacts how the upcoming season plays out. Just as free agency can improve or worsen a team's outlook, a player's fantasy football value is also impacted. Free agency marks the real... Read More


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, WR, NFL Draft Sleepers

Coach Knows Ball: Malik Nabers 2024 NFL Draft Film Breakdown of LSU WR

Welcome to Coach Knows Ball, an NFL Draft series analyzing the top prospects in the 2024 class. I'm a college football coach with nine years of NCAA experience and have been scouting NFL Draft prospects for over 15 years. This series will give a deep dive into the film of some of the top players... Read More


Avoid These Running Backs in 2024: Fantasy Football Outlook

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! The staff is already looking ahead to the 2024 season to help our readers get the jump on their competition. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones discusses five Running Backs that you should AVOID in 2024 fantasy football drafts. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller! Be sure to tune into RotoBaller Radio... Read More


Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NCAA College Football, Prospects

Brock Bowers 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update – When Will the Georgia TE Be Selected?

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was arguably the top tight end in college football over the past few years. Bowers was outstanding his freshman year, totaling 56 receptions for 882 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production slightly slipped in 2022 as defenses started to game plan for the star tight end. Bowers had... Read More


Xavier Worthy 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update – When Will the Texas WR Be Selected?

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been one of the top pass-catchers in college football over the past few years. The explosive receiver was outstanding his freshman year, totaling 62 receptions for 981 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production slipped in 2022. Worthy had 60 receptions for 760 receiving yards and nine touchdowns... Read More


Blake Corum - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Blake Corum 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update - When Will the Michigan RB Be Selected?

Former Michigan running back Blake Corum is one of the most popular prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. The 23-year-old is fresh off a College Football National Championship victory and a 2023 campaign consisting of over 1,300 yards from scrimmage. However, given the devaluation of the running back position and Corum not being an... Read More


Brandon Aiyuk - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News

Will The 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk?

Brandon Aiyuk had a career year last season, finishing seventh in the league in receiving yards (1342), second in yards per catch (17.9), and catching seven touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named to the Second-team All-Pro. However, despite many expecting them to do so, the 49ers failed to win Super Bowl LVIII and now... Read More